Seat Thermal Manikin

The Seat Thermal Manikin is designed to evaluate thermal comfort and humidity management performance of automotive, truck, office, and aircraft seats. Developed based on the SAE J826 HPM-II anthropomorphic model, it is compatible with existing automotive seat H-point measurement methods. For passive seats, it precisely measures heat and moisture exchange. For heated or ventilated seats, it evaluates actual energy transfer rather than surface temperature alone, while accounting for realistic sweat levels, ensuring accurate measurement.

Application

Automotive seat thermal comfort and humidity management testing

Truck seat heat performance evaluation

Office chair long-term comfort and heat dissipation testing

Aircraft seat thermal comfort and cooling/ventilation performance assessment

Heated seat performance testing

Seat material thermal conductivity verification

Automotive seat design and ergonomic research

Passenger environment thermal comfort optimization and HVAC system evaluation

Standards

GB/T 18830-2009: Test methods for automotive seat and backrest thermal comfort

SAE J826: Human engineering H-point measurement standard

ISO 14505-2: Seat thermal comfort testing — Thermal manikin method

ISO 12894: Anthropometry and application of human models

ISO 9920: Clothing, personal protective equipment, and seat thermal comfort assessment

ASTM F1291: Standard method for evaluating thermal comfort using thermal manikins

ASTM F2370: Measurement of seat heat/cooling energy and humidity transfer

EN 12127: Automotive seat heat flux and pressure distribution measurement

Note: Some standards apply to overall seat thermal comfort evaluation, while others relate specifically to heat flux, humidity, or heated/ventilated seat energy transfer.

Product Specifications

Features

Eight independent thermal zones with protected temperature control for precise heat distribution

Active cooling simulating human blood flow prevents local overheating during heated seat tests

Dynamic Heat Flow Sensors (DHS) measure instantaneous energy exchange between seat and skin

Computer-controlled liquid delivery system distributes sweat per zone

Highly stable resistive heating ensures uniform heat flux

Software-controlled real-time monitoring, automatic testing, and flexible data recording

Pre-set thermal differential tests allow quick evaluation

Comprehensive evaluation for passive, heated, and ventilated seats

High-accuracy measurement of humidity and heat flux suitable for R&D and quality control

Accessories

Testing Principle

The Seat Thermal Manikin simulates human heat and sweat secretion through eight independent thermal zones and skin analog systems. DHS sensors directly measure instantaneous energy exchange between the seat surface and the manikin skin. For heated or ventilated seats, active cooling prevents local overheating, ensuring reliable and accurate measurements. Software calculates thermal comfort indices and energy transfer efficiency using combined heat flux, temperature, and humidity data.

Test Procedure

Place the thermal manikin on the test seat, ensuring correct H-point positioning.

Set target temperatures and sweat distribution for each thermal zone according to standards or test requirements.

Start the control software and select the testing mode:

Passive seat: Constant temperature heat flux measurement

Heated seat: Heat flux and sweat measurement simultaneously

Ventilated seat: Heat flux, humidity, and airflow measurement simultaneously

The system automatically records heat flux, temperature, and humidity, generating time-history curves.

Analyze data and generate a thermal comfort report (including heat balance, local comfort, and humidity distribution).

Perform system self-check after completion, disconnect power and cooling, and clean the equipment.

FAQ

1. What is this product?

The Seat Thermal Manikin is a full-scale anthropomorphic model used to measure thermal comfort, heat flux, and humidity exchange in automotive, truck, office, and aircraft seats.

2. What is this product used for?

It evaluates passive, heated, and ventilated seat performance, supporting R&D, quality control, and ergonomic studies by providing precise, standardized, and reproducible measurements of thermal comfort.

3. Why is this product important?

It enables accurate, repeatable testing of heat and moisture transfer under real-world conditions, accounting for sweat levels and energy flow rather than surface temperature alone. This ensures valid data for seat design, HVAC optimization, and regulatory compliance.

4. What industries is this product suitable for?

Automotive and truck manufacturers

Aircraft seat designers

Office furniture producers

HVAC and thermal comfort research labs

Certification and test laboratories

5. What types of this product are available?

Passive thermal manikin for standard seats

Heated thermal manikin with active cooling

Ventilated seat thermal manikin with airflow, heat, and sweat measurement

Full system including software, cooling, and sensors for automated, multi-zone testing